In October 1906, Wilhelm Voigt, an ex-convict and destitute shoemaker, executed one of the most brilliant satirical heists in history by exploiting Wilhelmine Germany's uncritical obedience to military authority. Voigt purchased parts of a used Prussian captain's uniform from various second-hand shops across Berlin. Donning the outfit, he approached a detachment of soldiers on the street and presented them with fabricated military orders.
Without questioning his authority, the soldiers immediately followed Voigt to the suburban town of Kopenick. Upon arrival, Voigt led the squad into the local town hall, placed the mayor and treasurer under military arrest for alleged financial irregularities, and confiscated over 4,000 marks from the municipal safe. He then instructed his commandeered troops to hold the building while he took a cab to the railway station with the loot, changing back into civilian clothes on the train.
The absurdity of the situation stunned the nation once the truth emerged: a convicted criminal had successfully used a piece of cloth and an authoritative demeanor to command real soldiers to commit an armed robbery. The event, dubbed the Captain of Kopenick affair, exposed the absurdity of German militarism and blind deference to uniform authority, becoming an international embarrassment for Kaiser Wilhelm II and a legendary cultural milestone.